Anti-freeze cap for hydrant



E. L. FoGLlE Sept. 11, 1956 ANTI-FREEZE CAP FOR HYDRANT y Filed April 8, 1953 FIGA.

FIGB.

INVENTOR. EARLE L. FOGLE www. A 'r ORNEY United States Patent O 1 2,762,386 ANTI-FREEZE CAP FDR HYDRANT Earle L. Fogle, Baltimore, Md., assignor of fifty per cent to Reuben Sandler, Baltimore, Md. Application April S, 1953, Serial No. 347,599 El Claim. (Cl. 137-296) This invention relates to re hydrants and more particularly to a removable anti-freezing cover adaptable for placement over the head of the lire hydrant so its operating shank will be protected from snow, rain and ice and freezing, until such occasions as it is required to use the hydrant and open its valve.

While coverings have been employed for the protection of hydrants, such have been designed to cover the greater portion of the hydrant and tit closely thereon. This makes the device unduly cumbersome and subject to frozen attachment during wintry weather. The latter result is due to the condensation entrapped in the casing owing to the surfaces where the casing and hydrant contact each other, and freezing tight during freezing weather. In this invention, the size of the device is comparatively small, in fact just large enough to cover the conventional hydrant head and support itself on the operating nut used for turning the stem of the valve with in the hydrant. An air space is left between the cover and iire hydrant to permit a free circulation of air for the evaporation of any water or condensation occurring there and to prevent sleet and ice from forming and freezing the screw and hydrant against movement.

The invention includes in its objects the provision of a new and improved anti-freeze cap for attachment to a hydrant that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved anti-freeze cap for a hydrant that will fit over its dome and prevent snow and ice from piling up on the operating stem and nut of the hydrant and interfering with its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved anti-freeze cap for attachment to an existing hydrant that is relatively small and compact, simple in design, and effective for the use intended of it, and particularly in preserving the operating nut on the valve stem of the hydrant free of ice and ready for facile operation by a suitable tool whenever such is required.

Other objects of the invention will be noted as the invention is more fully described.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and the objects thereof reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein a particular form of the invention is indicated by way of example to illustrate its principles, method of use and emphasize its objects. The following description is used in conjunction with the drawings to bring out the details while the claim covers the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an anti-freeze cap for a tire hydrant embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 with a dotted outline of a conventional hydrant on which the device is used.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, a cap in the form of an inverted hemispherical dish is provided with a hollow dome piece 11 projecting above its exterior surface about its vertical axis. The interior of the cap has its wall 12 contoured to cover the exterior contour of a conventional hydrant head 13, but spaced far enough to provide an air space therebetween. This air space keeps the cap from sticking to the hydrant heads peripheral surface. The dome piece has a chamber 15 designed to t over the boss 14 and stem operating nut 16. Its upper surface 17 rests on the top of the nut and supports the weight of the cap. The dome piece 11 is usually of pentagon form and is integral with the cap 10 and has an inner hollow portion to t over and be operable with the operating stem nut 16 to suit the opening and closing of the valve of the hydrant. The dome piece is made cylindrical on its exterior 18 where it covers the boss 14. This enables the cap to be operated by a wrench While it is in place on the head and thereby also operate the nut 16.

A set screw 19 is used in the Wall of the dome to secure the cap to the nut 16, and serves to hold the cap in place as well as permit its removal. The hem 21 of the cap is limited in the distance it hangs down over the head so as to provide a space between it and the conventional bolts 22 that hold the head ange 23 to the body ange 24 of the hydrant.

The device is simple but none the less effective. It does not detract from the appearance of the hydrant. It does however afford complete coverage to its operating nut. This eliminates the common trouble frequently experienced with ice formations and freezing on the uncovered hydrants, since it prevents the wrench or other tool from being put on its operating nut and avoids delaying the turning on of the hydrant valve. Since hydrants are mainly used for lire extinguishing purposes, any delay in the operation of the hydrant is a serious matter. Since condensation and water do not settle between the cap and head of the hydrant, the air space in between assures a free cap at all times, and its ready removal to get at the operating nut directly.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same` principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In combination, a hydrant having anges at its upper end, bolts securing the anges together, a head carried by said flanges, said head being dome-shaped, said head also having an upper axial boss and an outer polygonal nut extending axially and upwardly of said boss, an antifreeze cap for said head having a bell-shaped portion fitting over the dome-shaped portion of the head and being spaced therefrom to prevent sticking thereto, the lower skirt of the bell-shaped portion being also spaced from the aforesaid flanges to afford access to the said bolts, said cap having an axial upper cylindrical portion receiving the aforesaid axial boss of the head, said last named portion terminating in an upper axial hollow dome extension fitting around the polygonal nut of the head, the outer periphery of said hollow dome extension being outwardly of polygonal shape engageable by a wrench and its internal shape being also polygonal to conform with the polygonal shape of the aforesaid nut, and a screw extending through the wall of the hollow dome extension to lock it with the aforesaid nut, whereby said dome and nut may be rotated together.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

